impeachable offense
impeachable offense. An offense for which a public official may legally be impeached, during the first step in a two-step process that may, depending on the vote in the U.S. Senate, lead to the official’s removal from office. • The U.S. Constitution states that “[t]he President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” The meaning of this language was much debated during the impeachment and trial of President Bill Clinton, against whom two articles of impeachment were returned by the House of Representatives. The question arose what type of misdemeanor will suffice, and whether the high in high crimes modifies misdemeanors as well. No definitive answer resulted from the proceedings.
